BACOLOD CITY – Thousands of athletes from 12 private universities and colleges in Negros Island are competing in various sports and cultural events in the 1st Negros Island Private Schools Athletic Association (NIPRISAA) that officially kicked off on Friday, April 26, at the STI-West Negros University (WNU) here.
Participating schools were Colegio de Santa Ana de Victorias, Colegio de Santa Catalina de Alejandra, Colegio San Agustin-Bacolod, Foundation University, John B. Lacson Colleges Foundation-Bacolod, La Consolacion College-Bacolod, North Negros College, Southland College, STI-WNU, University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos (UNO-R), University of Saint La Salle (USLS), and VMA Global College.
Fourteen sports events are taking place in various venues, including STI-WNU, USLS, UNO-R, Panaad Park and Stadium, SM City Bacolod, and Ayala Malls Capitol Central from April 26 to April 30.
In a statement, the NIPRISAA organizing committee said that the sports event seeks to provide better opportunities for student-athletes in Negros to compete in the National PRISAA and other sports-related events.
Prior to the official opening of NIPRISAA, the National PRISAA and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) introduced their Sports Grassroots Program to about 100 school heads, sports directors, and coaches during the National Grassroots Sports Summit-Bacolod Leg at STI-WNU on Thursday, April 25.
Commissioner Edward Hayco of the PSC, Prof. Elbert “Bong” Atilano, executive director of PRISAA, Laureano Santos, secretary-general of National PRISAA, and Dr. Raymund Lapating, PSC consultant for the Grassroots Program, led the sports summit, which aims to establish a distinct identity for the schools' student-athletes program and the island's sports development efforts.
Dr. Ryan Mark Molina, executive vice president and chief operations officer of STI-WNU, said the summit's goal is to promote sports development programs as venues for the personality development and character building of student athletes.
Molina, a second vice president of the National PRISAA, said the sports event also aims to bridge the gap between grassroots and elite sports by fostering connections between schools and national sports associations.
While the government is looking into the structure of the Negros Island Region (NIR), the academe went ahead when it comes to sports development program, Molina said.
“That’s the reason why we established the Negros Island PRISAA. So, the future is here now. It’s happening,” he added.